Vaux en Bugey-Siccieu

(D) Start from the Chapelle de la Nièvre, heading down the cemetery road which continues as the Quai du Buizin to join the GR®59. Cross the village of Vaux-en-Bugey following the red and white markings. Turn left onto Rue de la Boissière and follow it to the next junction.
(1) Turn right then left to head down Rue du Montet to the end.
(2) Continue left onto Chemin des Gorelles, which heads towards the woods and reaches a junction about 250 m further on after a left-hand bend.
(3) Ignore the PR® signs heading left and continue on the GR® 59 to reach the hamlet of Tour du Mont Vert.
(4) Continue due south. At the junction of the path with a bend in the road, turn left towards “Table d’Orientation”. At the end of the road, continue along the path to the left and you will reach a junction.
(5) Leave the GR® 59 and continue right onto the GR® 59 Accès, towards Lagnieu, to reach Rue du Docteur Beaumes. Cross the railway line carefully. Continue straight ahead, then turn left onto Rue de la Gare, which is a one-way street.
(6) At the end of this street, continue left onto Rue de Bourg, pass the town hall, turn right onto Place de la Liberté, then left towards Grenoble on Route du Port. Continue south to the roundabout.
(7) Head left, then turn right onto the small tarmac road between the garages and the gym (Impasse du Gymnase JP Cellier) and follow the path that runs alongside the Moulin housing estate.
(8) At the end of the path, just before the Rhône, turn left onto the D40a then keep right all the way to the roundabout.
(9) Cross the bridge over the river towards Grenoble. At the Y-junction, keep right towards La Balme on the right-hand lane reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. Continue along the D65 through the fields for 1.8 km (take care on the final stretch when walking at the side of the road). Continue to the Y-junction.
(10) Head towards Grottes de la Balme. On the D65i, after the small bridge over the stream, you’ll reach the entrance to La Balme les Grottes and continue to the roundabout.
(11) Turn left into Rue de l’Ancienne École, then right onto Route de Crémieu (D65), following signs for the cemetery. Pass the cemetery and continue to the junction of the D65 with the D65i coming from the right.
(12) Head towards Pont des Chéruy along the D65, pass the ruins of Château d’Amblérieu on your right and reach a multi-way junction.
(13) Turn left and then immediately right towards Saint-Beaudille de la Tour on the D52B. Walk carefully, keeping to the side of the ascending tarmac road for about 3.3 km until you reach the village of Torjonas.
(14) Walk through the village and continue south on the D52B until you reach a junction with a cross on the left.
(15) Ignore the PR® signs. Continue on the D52B to the village of Saint-Baudeville de la Tour and, after the right-hand bend, you will come to a junction with a large cross on the right
(16) Head left towards the church on the Route de la Bise. Walk past the church, turn sharply left behind it, then pass the war memorial and join the Route du Figuier. Walk past the football pitch and the cemetery and continue along the PR® (yellow markings). The path meets the wide Chemin du Plany.
(17) Cross this path and continue straight on to the D52, ignoring the PR® signs.
(18) At the T-junction, turn right towards Optevoz along the D52. Continue in this direction for about 1.5 km until you reach the village of Optevoz. After the junction with the D52A, pass the Auberge des Peintres.
(19) There is a grocery shop next to the inn and a bakery further on opposite the church: take the opportunity to stock up on supplies. Continue south through the village, pass the church on your left then the war memorial, and you will reach a crossroads.
(20) Leave the D52, turn right onto the Chemin des Romains, go under the high-voltage power line and continue to the crossroads.
(21) Turn right and follow the road to the end of Rue au Bas de Sissieu. At the fork, turn right, pass the wash house and then a beautiful fountain, and continue straight on until you reach the D52.
(22) Turn left onto Rue d’Optevoz, cross the village of Siccieu to the war memorial.
(23) Continue towards Trept along the Route des Bourg (D54). On leaving the village, take the small path on the right which leads to a pond where you can camp in peace (A).

Refreshments available in Optevoz (19). Grocery shop next to the inn and a bakery a little further on. No water points along the route. Long tarmac sections in full sun in fine weather; bring water and sun protection. Camping possible next to a pond on the outskirts of Siccieu.

The village of Lagnieu lies between (5) and (9) Balme Les Grottes, near point (11).